The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-12-02
FREDERICK w. BAKER, Editor.
The FiftietIl Congress.

At IL O'Clock noon, on Monday, Deem
Der 9TH, the Fiftieth Congress will convene
at Washington; Il seems to be conceded
that Hon. John G. Carlisle, of Kentucky,
will be reelected Speaker. The Democrats
have majority of ten in the House of Re
representatives., exclusive of the Independents,
some of whom will act with them in organ
izing the House. In the Senate the parties
are equally divided, the erratic Senator Rid
dleberger, of Virginia, holding the balance
of-power. There are several Democratic
claimants TO seats, whose fate is thus in Rid
dleberger's hands
Congress will be again called upon to solve
the problem of reduction of the income of
the government. The surplus in the Treasu-
airy on the 3lst of last January was
1911 ,4O3,217, more than two-thrds Of which
was derived 5om the tariff taxes on imports
This vast sum is annually increasing at the
rate of a hundred million dollars or more
year, and as matter of course it all comes
out ofthe pockets of the American people,
who are therefore taxed unnecessarily to
that extent.
A surplus OF such magnitude is constant
temptation to extravaganza and wastefulness
in the ADMINISTRATION of the government and a
source of danger to the country. The Re.
publican and Democratic parties have both
declared that the tax burden must be decreas-
ed to point sufficient 10 support the gov
eminent, and that no more than this should
be collected from the people. The Republi-
cans, by the aid of few Democrats, how
ever, have persistently thwarted every meas
ure looking to reduction Of the tax on i'm
ported articles. They have, at the same time,
manifested willingness to abolish all taxes
upon whiskey and tobacco. If this were done
the receipts from tariff sources would be no
more than sufficient for the uses of the gov
erment. But this is precisely what the
American people do not intend shall be done.
The abolition of the internal revenue tax on
tobacco might benefit our tobacco growers,
it is true but the removal of the tax on
whiskey would undoubtedly have the effect
OF increasing the consumption of that article
Under the present tariff the farmer ap-
pears to be the greatest sufferer. The iron and
steel which enter into the manufacture of
every implement he uses on his farm, is so
protected by the tariff that their cost is
largely increased, and the surplus over a
legitimate profit goes to enrich the iron and
steel manufacturers In short, everything
the farmer eats, drinks or wears, except what
Kind Providence gives him as the direct re-
ward of his daily toll, is made by thstarift to
cost him much more than it should Is it any
wonder, then, that with short crops, low
prices and tariff that robs the farmer for the
benefit of favored classes, SO many farms are
mortgaged, and that the agricultural wealth
oil the country is decreasing? Occasionally
manufacturers and merchants fail, but no
class in the country is compelled to work
under so many disadvantageous circumstan-
ces as the farmer.
Congress can not legislate so that the far
mer can raise larger crops at better prices,
but by tariff in which the interests of the
agricultural class is considered, Congress can
enable the farmer 10 raise bis crops with less
costly machinery and implements, and sup
ply the nesessaries Of life to his family at a
lower price. In this manner the farmers
ledger might at least balance, if it does not
show something in his favor.